5 Ways That Kill A Child’s Love for History

“I liked about every subject, except history.” Shock followed by sadness swept over me when a friend shared this fact about her childhood education. Since treasuring stories of yore was a natural pastime during my childhood, it was news that anyone – let alone a child – would not like history. Which in turn sparked a question, “What causes a child to dislike history?” While not exhaustive, here are 5 ways that often stifle young love for the past.

Culling Anything That Sounds Like A Story

Who has to teach a child to delight in stories? Story-telling is a natural love all children enter the world with. Unfortunately, story-telling is all but lost in American education. What was once a productive pastime that instructed budding generations about their heritage is a dying art. But it need not be for your child. Learn historical stories that interest you and pass your joy on to your child.

Poorly Written Biographies

What a need there is for well-written biographies for children! Children, like adults, are drawn to colorful, three dimensional human beings. No one ever chose a friend or mentor by memorizing their life time-line, the birth and death dates of their ancestors and a smattering of quotes about their character. It’s knowing a person’s dreams, desires and disappointments that draws us to love them. If your child is to care about actors from history’s drama, be choosy about the biographies you hand her.

Teach Only Historical Figures’ Flaws

It is fashionable among modern historians to portray historical persons in a critical light. This varies from demonizing to tailoring them as blundering, backward buffoons. I’m convinced this critical spirit is one contributor to the high historical illiteracy among young adults. But just as dangerous as only teaching historical figures’ faults is the other ditch of only teaching their virtues.

Teach Only Historical Figures’ Virtues

When I read how much William Wilberforce struggled in learning to manage his time, it fills me with awe how the Lord graciously blessed him with a fruitful life. When I hear it was his indecisive tendencies that cost George Washington most of his lost battles, it gives me hope for my weaknesses. History teaches us to hope – hope in a God Who loves to make the weak strong.

Denounce Any Divine Design

This is the greatest death blow to loving history. Remove God. Remove any meaning, any purpose behind mankind’s origin and end. To ascribe the events of history to chance is one of the most dangerous beliefs a child can adopt.

More than mere dates and names, history is the narrative of men, women, communities, tribes, nations scripted by the Great Author; more thrilling than the most brilliantly crafted novel. Your child is a pivotal character in this story. For good or evil we each play an influential role in the pages of tomorrow’s history. But part of knowing our purpose is knowing our past. After cherishing Scripture, cherishing history is the greatest love we can foster in young hearts.

Kenzi Knapp is a follower of Christ, homeschool graduate and student of history. A fourth generation Missourian she enjoys writing about daily life enrolled in Gods great course of faith and His story throughout the ages at her blog, Honey Rock Hills.